Deployment device for survival kit



July 7, 1970 P. w. POEHLMANN ET L 3,5

DEPLOYMENT DEVICE FOR SURVIVAL KIT Filed Nov. 12. 1 968 5 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. Paul W Poehlmann y Derek M. Bay/is Attorney July '7, 1970 P.w. POEHLMANN ETAL 3,519,223

DEPLQYMENT DEVICE FOR SURVIVAL KIT 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 12, 1968INVENTOR.

Paul W Poehlmann Derek M Bay/is Attorney July 7, 1970 P. w. POEHLMANN ETAL' 3,519,223

DEPLOYMENT DEVICE FOR SURVIVAL KIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 12, 1968Attorney Juiy 7, 1970 P. w. POEHLMANN ErAL 3,519,22

DEPLOYMENT DEVICE FOR SURVIVAL KIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 12. 1968I INVENTOR. g Paul W Poehlmann BY Derek M. Bay/is Attorney Jufiy 7, 1970P. w. POEHLMANN ET AL 3,519,223

DEPLOYMENT DEVICE FOR SURVIVAL KIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 12, 1968INVENTOR. Paul W Poehlmann BY Derek M. Baylis K :iliu. (Li;

4 n H r.

United States Patent DEPLOYMENT DEVICE FOR SURVIVAL KIT Paul W.Poehlmann, San Anselmo, and Derek M. Baylis,

Belvedere, Calif., assignors to H. Koch & Sons, Inc.,

Corte Madera, Calif., a division of Global Systems,

a Gulf Western company Filed Nov. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 783,163 Int. Cl.B64d 25/00 U.S. Cl. 2441 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thedeployment of a survival kit for flight personnel is illustrated ingeneral in U.S. Pat. No. 3,182,928, granted to John A. Gaylord on May11, 1965. There are various types of emergency release handles wherebythe emergency kit can be deployed, for instance, in the manner shown inFIG. 11 of the aforementioned patent.

The herein deployment device has a selector for selecting either manualor automatic deployment of the kit. In the case of automatic deploymentthe release mechanism is operated through a detonator actuated pistonmotor, which is in the form of a cartridge with a detonator cap in oneend which detonates a slow-burning pyrotechnic charge of predeterminedcharacteristics to delay for a predetermined period the igniting of themain charge, which main charge is also comparatively slow-burning sothat the gases developed by combustion expel a piston from thecartridge, and the piston operates the releasing mechanism. A triggerdevice with a firing pin is in registry with the detonator cap in theend of the cartridge, and is cocked for firing and is actuated by adevice connected to the seat of the crewman so that when the crewmanseparates from the seat the firing pin is actuated. In another form thefiring pin assembly is actuated by a device connected to the parachuteso that when the parachute opens the pull exerted by the parachutereleases the firing pin and then the piston motor, after a predeterminedtime, operates the deployment mechanism.

Background of the invention It is essential that the deployment of thesurvival equipment be initiated with sufiicient delay after theseparation of the air crewman from his heat, or after the opening of hisparachute, to prevent entanglement of the survival kit with theparachute shrouds or other supporting lines. Therefore it is essentialthat whenever the deployment of the survival kit is actuatedautomatically either by the separation from the seat, or by the openingof the parachute, that the automatic actuation of the releasing ordeployment device be delayed for a predetermined period. It is alsoessential that the crewman have the option for controlling thedeployment manually whenever that may be advantageous and that suchselection may be made quickly by merely turning the switchlike button orhandle.

In the present invention the delaying action is accomplished by a pistonmotor wherein the piston is moved by the burning of an explosive charge,which, however, is not ignited until a slower burning explosive chargehas been burned for a predetermined period of time, for instance, threeseconds. The slower burning charge is ignited by a primer, which latteris fired by a firing pin. A mechanism to operate the firing pin isadapted to be cocked and to be released for firing either by a deviceconnected to the seat of the crewman and pulled when the crewman and thekit are separated from the seat, or by a pull line connected to theparachute shroud or line to be operated by the pull of the parachutewhen it is opened. In this manner the entangling of the kit or its lineswith the shroud lines of the parachute or other supports of the crewman3,519,223 Patented July 7, 1970 is entirely obviated because not onlyautomatic deployment after predetermined delay is accomplished, but thecrewman is also afforded the choice of simple manual operation.

Description of figures FIG. 1 is a side view of the deployment devicemounted on the right hand side of the kit.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the deployment device with the cover removedand certain parts in section.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a modified form of the device with the coversremoved and parts in section.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the piston motor and the firing pin, thesection being taken substantially on lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmental plan view of the part of the mechanism forrelease by parachute line and also the connecting lines for actuatingthe release mechanism viewing substantially in the direction of thearrows 55 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a partly sectional view of the connecting device to theparachute line for actuating the trigger and the firing pin.

FIG. 7 is a sectional perspective view of the firing mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a sectional perspective view of the firing mechanism cockedready for firing.

Detailed description The invention is applied to survival equipment suchas a survival kit which has a container casing 1 and a lid 2 which isheld in place by releasable coacting locking means of the type shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the aforementioned patent and described therein. Oneof the functions of the herein deployment device is to pull theactuating line 3 which releases the interlocking mechanism 4 thereby torelease the lid 2 from the casing 1 and deploy the parts of the survivalkit substantially in the manner shown in FIG. 2 of said patent.

The deployment device herein has a handle or cartridge actuated linepulling and actuating mechanism 6 for pulling the line or cable 3 forthe deployment of the kit, and a selector and firing device 7 whichselectively fires the charge in the cartridge actuated mechanism 6 orpermits the actuation of mechanism 6 manually by a handle 8.

The line pulling or actuating mechanism 6 includes a housing 9 coveredby a cover plate 11. The housing 9 has therein guide rails 12 betweenwhich is slideably held a slide block 13, which latter is shorter thanthe rails 12 so that there is a space 14 provided between the slideblock 13 and the housing end 16 to permit the reciprocation of thesliding block 13. The line or cable 3 extends through the other end wall17 of the housing 9 and is suitably connected to the slide block 13, forinstance by the ball and socket connection 18. For deployment of thesurvival kit a slide block 13 is moved toward the housing end wall 16thereby to pull the actuating line 3 to release the interlocking device4 in the manner described in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,182,928.

A slide locking bar 19 is guided in a groove 21 in the bottom of thehousing 9 and extends. at right angles and across the rails 12 and has aslide locking finger 22. The lower edge of the slide block 13 has alocking notch 23. A suitable spring 24 anchored on the bottom of thehousing 9 bears against a projection 26 on the side of the slide lockingbar 19 so as to urge the slide locking bar 19 toward the handle 8,thereby to urge the slide locking finger 22 into the locking notch 23for holding the slide locking block 13 in the releasing position. Thelocking notch 23 is spaced from the end 26 of the slide block 13 atabout the same distance as the spacing between the housing end wall 16and the slide block end 26, so that the notch 23 is 3 registering withthe slide locking finger 22 in the retracted position the slide lock 13.

For the manual release operation the handle 8 has a projecting flange 27insertable through a top opening 28 into the housing 9. The projectionextends down to the pulling end 29 of the slide block 13 and has aroller 31 bearing against said pulling end 29. On an edge of the handleflange 27 is a socket 32 which bears against a roller 33 on a pin 34 inthe housing 9 spaced above the roller 31. A hook 36, extended from theflange 27, spaced from the socket 32, bears against a pivot roller 37 ona pivot pin 38 in the housing 9, so that when the handle 8 is pulled outof the housing 9, the roller 31 is pushed against the block end 29 asthe handle flange 27 pivots around the pivot roller 33. The outline ofthe flange is such that as it pivots around the pivot roller 33 thesocket 32 clears the roller 33. The space between the roller 33 and theslide locking bar 19 is suificient to permit the withdrawal of theflange 27 from the housing 9 after the slide block 13 was pushed inproximity to the housing end 16. The upper end of the slide locking bar19 bears against a projection 39 on the underside of the flange 27between the socket 32 and the hook 36 so that the action of the spring24 yieldably releases slide block 13.

For automatic operation a lug 41 projects from the slide block 13 pastthe lower rail 12 into the lower half of the housing 9. The lower halfof the housing 9 has spaced sockets 42 into which can be placed acartridge 43, which is held in place by the cover plate 11, which latteris suitably secured, such as by screws, to the housing 9. A piston 44projects from the end of the cartridge 43 and bears against the lug 41so that when the piston 44 is propelled by the products of combustion inthe cartridge 43 it pushes the block 13 toward the housing under wall 16and thereby pulls actuating line 3.

The cartridge 43 is shown in detail in FIG. 4. The cartridge has acasing 46 through an end 47 of which reciprocates the piston 44. In theother end of the cartridge casing 46 is a detonator cap 48 which startsthe burning of the slow-burning detonator charge 49. The time of theburning of the detonator charge 49 is predetermined, for instance forpresent release operations, about three seconds. Upon the detonation ofthe detonator charge 49 the main charge '51 behind the piston 44 isignited. The main charge 51 is also comparatively slow burning so as toexert gradual force on the piston 44 and move the block 13 gradually topull the pull line gradually.

The cartridge 43 is fired by a firing pin device 52 which latter isactuated by the pull exerted on the firing line 53 by the automaticfiring device 7. The automatic firing device as shown in FIG. 2 includesa separate housing 61 with a cover plate 62 suitably fastened on ahousing 61, for instance, by screws. In the housing is a slider 63 towhich the firing line 53 is connected. The slider 63 moves in a suitablegroove 64 in the bottom of the housing 61. The groove 64 is longer thanthe slider 63 so as to allow the reciprocation of the slider 63. In thelower side of the slider 63 is a notch 66 for engagement by a finger 67on an actuating cam 68. The actuating disc cam 68 is positioned in arecess 69 and in the bottom of the housing 61 which is so shaped as togenerally accommodate the cam 68. The bottom of the housing 61 is opento permit insertion and withdrawal of the disc cam 68. In the edge ofthe actuating cam 68 is a socket 71 loosely fitting over a roller 72.The actuating cam 68 has an arcuate edge 73 curving into a substantiallyflat top edge between the top of the arcuate edge 73 and the finger 67.The other edge 76, below the socket 71, fits against the adjacent wall77 of the recess 69. From a side of the actuating cam 68 projects a stubshaft 79, spaced from the cam base 78. On the stub shaft 79 is aresiliently yieldable reel 81 urged normally to be wound around the stubshaft 79. A connecting line or strap 82 is wound upon the reel 81 and isprovided with means thereon for detachable connection to the seat onwhich the crewman is seated.

When the crewman is separated from his seat the line 82 unrolls to allowsufficient clearance for the crewman from the aircraft or from theejection seat, and after it is unwound entirely, then it pulls the camactuator 68 around its abutting edge 76 as a fulcrum. The wall 83 of therecess 69 adjacent the arcuate edge 73 of the cam 68 is so shaped thatthe arcuate edge 73 of the cam 68 clears the adjacent sides of therecess. The roller 72 holds the finger 67 in the notch 66 of the slider63. The notch 66 is longer than the width of the finger 67. As the cam68 is pulled out of the recess 69 and turns about its abutting edge 76,it moves the slider 63 and thereby pulls the line 53 for cocking andfiring the firing pin device 52 in a manner hereinafter described.

The selector device is for the purpose of changing the position of theroller 72 so as to permit the withdrawal of the cam 68 without pullingthe slider 63 to a suflicient distance to actuate the firing pin device52. For this purpose the roller 72 is journalled in a selector bar 84.The side of the selector bar 84 at the roller 72 has a recess 85 thereinto accommodate the neck 86 of the cam 68. The recess 85 is considerablylonger than the width of the neck 86 so as to permit the movement of theselector bar 84 between guide grooves 87 and 88 in the housing 61. Whenthe selector bar 84 is pushed left viewing FIG. 2 into the groove 88,that shifts the position of the roller 72 to substantially under thefinger 67 so that the cam 68 may drop out after very slight sliding ofthe slider 63 and does not pull the line 53 sufliciently far to cock andfire the firing pin device 52.

The selector bar 84 is shifted by a lever 89 which is pivotedsubstantially intermediate its ends on a pivot shaft 91. The lever 89 ispositioned in an extension 92 of the housing 61 located along theoutside of the end wall 16 of the housing 9. At the top of the extension92 is an elongated longitudinal slot 93 in which slot is movable an arm94 extended from the lever 89. An arcuate head 96 on the top end of thelever 89 covers the top of the housing extension 92.

In order to switch the device for manual operation, the arm 94 is pusheddown from the full line position to the broken line position shown inFIG. 2, whereupon the lower end of the lever 89 pushes the selector bar84 into the groove 88 so as to shift the roller 72 to about under thefinger 67 and thereby permit the falling out of the cam 68 withoutactuating the firing pin. For automatic operation the arm 94 is pulledup into the full line position shown in FIG. 2, which compels themovement of the finger 67 to a substanial distance before the cam 68 canseparate from the recess 69 and thus automatically actuate the firingpin device 52.

The firing pin device 52, shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8,includes a cocking stem 97 reciprocating in a cocking tube 98. Thecocking line 53 is connected by a ball and socket connection 99 to thecooking stem 97. A cap 101 screwed on the outer end of the cocking tube98 clamps the head 102 of a line guide tube 103 in fixed position. Acoil spring 104 between the head 102 and the cocking stem 97 normallyholds the cocking stem 97 against a seat 106 in the tube 98 in aninitial position as shown in FIG. 7.

Beyond the seat 106 is a passage 107 of smaller diameter than thediameter of the cocking stem 97 for slideably receiving a firing pin108. In an enlarged passage 109 beyond the passage 107 is a cockingspring 111 between the shoulder of the enlarged passage 107 and a collar112 on the firing pin 108. The firing tip 113 of the firing pin 108 isof reduced diameter to fit the detonator cap 48.

A reduced extension 14 on the end of the cocking stem 97 extends into asocket 116 in the adjacent end of the firing pin 108. A plurality ofballs 117 are movable through holes 118 in the sides of the socket 116.A reduced neck 119 of the cocking stem extension 114 is in registry withthe holes 118 to receive the balls 117 thereby to interlock the lockingstern and the firing pin, as shown in FIG. 7, in the smaller passage107.

When the cocking line 53 is pulled to a suflicient extent, it pulls thecocking stem 97 from the initial position shown in FIG. 7 to the cockingposition shown in FIG. 8, thereby compressing the cooking spring 111.When the holes 118 of the firing pin socket 116 pass beyond the stemseat 106, the end of the stern extension 119 pushes the balls 117 out ofthe holes 118 thereby disconnecting the cocking stem 97 from the firingpin 108, whereupon the cocked spring 111 snaps the firing pin tip 113against the detonator cap 48 and fires the charges in the cartridge 43.

A detent is provided to hold the firing pin fixed, as shown in FIGS. 3and 4. The firing end of the tube 98 has a flange 121 which is held inplace on a detent boss 122 of the release housing 6 bya cap 123, inaxial registry with the sockets 42 for the cartridge 43. The detent boss122 has a transverse detent recess 124 at right angles to a guidepassage 126 for the firing pin 108. A detent button 127 in the detentrecess 124 extends across the guide passage 126. The detent button 127has a hole 128 therethrough in registry with the guide passage 126. Adetent 129 in the inside wall of the hole 128 fits into a socket 131 inthe firing pin 108 to prevent moving the firing pin 108. A detent spring132 between the bottom of the detent recess 124 and the inner end of thedetent button 127 urges the button 127 outwardly so as to hold thedetent 129 in the detent socket 131.

Before the cartridge 43 is inserted in the cartridge sockets 42, thefiring pin device is set by pushing the button 127 into its recess 124so as to free the firing pin 108, then a suitable tool is inserted intothe guide passage 126 and the firing pin 108 is pushed until its socket116 pushes the cocking stem 97 to about the position shown in FIG. 8,past the seat 106. The spring 104 pushes the reduced end 114 of the stem97 into the end socket 116, so that when the tool is withdrawn thespring 104 pushes the stem 97 and the firing pin 108 into theinterlocked initial position shown in FIG. 7, wherein the pin socket 131is spaced from the detent 129. Thereafter the cartridge 43 is insertedand the device is ready for operation.

The modified form of the cocking line pulling and actuating mechanism141, shown in FIGS. 3, and 6, is primarily for actuation by a suspendingline, such as parachute webbing, pulling on suspension line 142 througha device shown in FIG. 6.

In this form a sliding block 143 is guided in a pocket 144 in a housing145. A lever 146 is pivoted on the sliding block 143. The cocking line53 is connected to the upper end of the lever 146. To the lower end ofthe lever 146 is connected a pull line 147, leading from a line pullingdevice 148. When the sliding block 143 is fixed then the pulling of thepull line 147 turns the lever 146 in clockwise direction viewing FIG. 6,thereby pulling the cocking line 53 to operate the firing pin device 52.

The pocket 144 is open at one end and a spring 149 yieldably holds thesliding block 143 in the pocket 144. The sliding block 143 is held fixedby a pawl 151 fulcrumed on a pivot 152 in the housing 145 spaced fromthe sliding block 143. The pawl 151 fits in a cut away corner 153 of theblock 143 to hold the block 143 stationary. When the pawl 151 iswithdrawn from the cut away corner 153, the pulling of the pull line 147moves the sliding block 143 against the spring 149 and thus the pull online 53 is minimal and not suflicient to actuate the firing pin device52.

The pawl 151 is shifted from automatic to manual operation by the lever89 heretofore described, but the lower end of the lever 89 is pivotallyconnected to the pawl 151 by a link 154. The pawl 151 is shaped like ahook and the link 154 is pivoted in the corner or crook of the hook sothat when the link 154 is pushed by the lever 89 into the position shownin broken lines in FIG. 3, then the pawl 151 is lifted out of the cutaway corner 153 and the block 143 is released for the manual operation.

The pull line 147 is extended through a tube 156 to the pulling device148, as shown in FIG. 6.

The entire assembly of the pulling device 148 is enclosed in a sleeve158 which is detachably held by a pawl 159 engaging a groove 161 nearthe base 162 of the sleeve 158. The pawl 161 is pivoted on a bracket 163and a cable 164 is connected to its lower end. The cable 164 extends tothe front of the kit casing 1 and connects to an end of a pivoted lever165. By depressing the free end 166 of the pivoted lever the cable 164turns the pawl 159 out of the groove 161, thereby allowing the removalof the pulling device 148 from the kit casing 1.

The pulling device includes a pulling bar 157. The riser line 142 isconnected to the pulling bar by a ball and socket joint. An outer slidecylinder 168 is connected to the bar 157 by a cross pin 169, whichlatter moves in elongated slots 171 in the sides of an inner slidecylinder 172. The inner slide cylinder 172 has suitable ball pockets 173in its sides to accommodate balls 174 which are engageable with areduced neck 176 in the upper end of a pulling stem 177 suitablyconnected to pull line 147. The outer slide cylinder 168 has an enlargedannulus recess 178 near its lower end as shown in FIG. 6. The pullingstem 177 is guided in plug 179 secured in the bracket 163. The innerslide cylinder 172 has a flange 181 on its top and a coil spring 182between the flange 181 and the top of the outer slide cylinder 168pushes the latter normally against the top of the plug 179 so that theannular recess 178 registers with the balls 174 and permits the balls174 to be disengaged from the reduced neck 176.

The pulling bar 157 is guided in a flanged bushing 183, the flange 184of which rests on the top of the sleeve 158 and is held there by a cap185 threaded on the sleeve 158. A coil spring 186 between the flanges184 and 181 is stronger than the coil spring 182 and presses the innerslide cylinder 172 also against the top of the plug 17 9. The ballsockets 173 are spaced from the lower end of the inner slide cylinder172 the same distance as the distance of the annular recess 178 from thelower end of the outer slide cylinder 168 so that the pulling stem 177is disengaged from the inner slide cylinder 172.

When the sleeve 148 is disconnected from the pawls 161 it can be pulledolf the plug 179 without pulling the line pulling stem 177. But when theriser line 142 is pulled, it pulls the pulling bar 157 which through thecross pin 169 pulls the outer slide cylinder 168, and as the cross pin169 slides in the slots 171 the annular recess 178 is pulled past theballs 174 and the outer slide cylinder 168 pushes the balls 174 againstthe reduced neck 176. As the cross pin 169 reaches the upper ends of theslots 171, the inner slide cylinder 172 is moved together with thepulling bar and pulls the pulling stem 177 which in turn pulls the pullline 147 to actuate the lever 146 as heretofore described.

The connection between the riser line 142 and the pulling bar 157 is inthe form of a ball 187 in a bayonet socket 188 open to one side of thebar 167 so spaced from the top of the bar 157 that as the deploymentdevice is actuated the ball 187 and the socket 188 clear the bushingflange 184 and thus the ball 187 is allowed to escape from the socket188 and thereby frees the pulling device 148 for dropping away with thekit.

The pawl 159 is pulled out of the groove 161 during deployment by a pawlrelease line 189, shown in FIG. 6, which line 189 is suitably pulledsimultaneously with the pulling of the actuating line 3, FIG. 3.

We claim:

1. In a deployment device for deploying a hung article,

a mechanism for deploying the article,

an actuating line to operate the deploying mechanism,

a device to operate the actuating line including a casing,

a sliding element slidable in the casing and connected to said actuatingline thereby to pull said actuating line whenever the sliding element ismoved,

plunger means in said casing bearing against said sliding element formoving the same,

pressure applying mean for applying pressure to said plunger element formoving said sliding element,

means for hanging said article, and

means connected between said pressure applying means and said hangingmeans for operating said pressure applying means whenever said articleis dropped and hung on said hanging means.

2. The deployment device defined in claim 1 and a manipulable device formoving said sliding element thereby to pull said actuating line,

selecting means to selectively render said pressure applying meansinoperative for permitting manual operation.

3. The deployment device defined in claim 1 wherein said pressureapplying means include a cartridge, said plunger being reciprocable insaid cartridge,

explosive charge in said cartridge for applying pressure against saidplunger for moving said sliding element,

a trigger and firing device connected to said operating means betweenthe pressure applying means and said hanging means for firing saidexplosive charge after a predetermined period subsequent to the droppingand hanging of said article.

4. The deployment device defined in claim 3 and means to delay theburning of said explosive charge for a predetermined period after saidfiring.

5. The deployment device defined in claim 3 and said explosive charge insaid cartridge including a main charge for pushing said plunger, and aninitial slowburning pyrotechnic charge for detonating said main charge.

6. The deployment device defined in claim 5 and said main charge beingalso comparatively slow-burning thereby gradually to move said plungerout of said cartridge.

7. The deployment device defined in claim 3 and said trigger and firingmechanism including a firing pin in registry with the firing end of saidcartridge,

a coil spring urging said firing pin towards said cartridge,

a spring urged pulling element for cocking said firing pin by pullingsaid pin against said coil spring thereby compressing said coil spring,

pulling means connecting said pulling element to said operating meanswhereby said operating means pulls said pulling element for cocking saidfiring pin whenever said kit is dropped and hung on said hanging means,and

releasable connecting means between said pulling element and said firingpin disengageable after a predetermined travel when said firing pin iscocked, thereby to release said firing pin for firing said cartridge.

8. The deployment device defined in claim 7 and releasable safetylocking means to lock said firing pin in fired position after eachfiring.

9. The deployment device defined in claim 2 and said manipulable deviceincluding a handle,

an extension of the handle bearing against said sliding element, and

separable means to pivotally hold said handle on said casing in positionto move said sliding element for pulling said actuating line wheneverthe handle is turned about said pivotal means.

10. The deployment device defined in claim 9 and said handle pivotingmeans being releasable after a predetermined turn of the handle forpulling the actuuating line, thereby to separate said handle from saidcasing after said deploying mechanism had been actuated.

11. The deployment device defined in claim 2 wherein said selectingmeans include,

a lever pivoted between its ends,

a pivoted link extended from the end of the lever adjacent saidconnecting means,

a pulling line between said connecting means and said pressure applyingmeans for operating said pressure applying means,

an element in said connecting means for pulling said pulling line foroperating said pressure applying means, and

means operated by said link selectively to connect said connectingelement for pulling said pull line or for limiting the pulling of saidpull line to a lessor distance than necessary for operating saidpressure applying means.

12. In a deployment device for deploying a hung survival kit, thecombination with a deployment mechanism and an actuating line foractuating said deployment mechanism,

an operating line suspended so as to be pulled when the article isdropped and is hung on said operating line,

a casing on said kit,

an element in the casing connected to said operating line to be movedthereby whenever said operating line is pulled,

a sliding member in said casing,

selecting means to selectively hold said element for sliding saidsliding member beyond a predetermined distance for pulling saidactuating line sutficiently far for automatically actuating saiddeployment mechanism or for limiting the sliding of said sliding memberto less than said predetermined distance thereby to prevent automaticactuation of said deployment mechanism when said operating line issuspended and said article is dropped,

connecting means between said element and said sliding member and saidactuating line to pull said actuating line whenever said element ispulled by said operating line while said selecting means is set forautomatic actuation,

a manual device for actuating said deployment mechanism at will, and

manipulable selector device on said casing to shift said selecting meansfor automatic and manual actuation.

13. In a deployment device defined in claim 12, wherein said elementconnected to said operating line includes a reel, said operating linebeing wound on said reel,

said casing having a recess around said reel,

a cam plate rotatably supporting said reel and being movable out of saidrecess about the axis of rotation of said reel by said operating lineafter the entire operating line is played out,

a finger on said cam plate engageable with said sliding member forsliding said sliding member as said cam plate is rotated and withdrawnfrom said recess,

said selecting means including a holding member engaging said cam plateto hold said finger in operative relation with said sliding member,

said holding member being shiftable by said manipulable selective devicepartially out of engagement from said cam plate thereby to free saidfinger from said sliding member to permit withdrawal of said cam platefrom said recess without sliding said sliding member sufiiciently toactuate said deployment mechanism.

14. In a deployment device defined in claim 13, and

said cam plate having a recess in its edge below said finger,

said selecting means including a shifting link,

said holding member extending from said shifting link into said recessin said cam plate,

a selecting lever pivoted in said casing, and being accessible formanipulation at one end thereof, its other end being connected to saidlink for shifting said holding member into and out of said recess insaid cam plate respectively for automatic or manual actuation.

15. The deployment device defined in claim 12, wherein said elementconnected to said operating line includes,

an actuating lever pivoted on said sliding member, one end of said leverbeing connected to said operating line, the other end of said leverbeing connected to said actuating line, a selector lever pivoted in saidcasing, one end of said lever being accessible for manipulation, ashifting link connected to the other end of the lever, an obstructionmember pivoted on said casing and connected to said link in position toengage said sliding member thereby to obstruct movement of said slidingmember whereby said obstructed sliding member forms a fixed fulcrum forsaid actuating lever when pulled by said operating line, and causes thepulling of said actuating line, said shifting link being shiftable bysaid selecting lever to withdraw said obstruction member from saidsliding member, whereby the pulling of said actuating line by saidoperating line is prevented, and resiliently yieldable means to urgesaid sliding member in obstructed position relatively to saidobstruction member. 16. The invention defined in claim 12, and saidoperating line extending through said kit, means to suspend saidoperating line including,

a tubular casing, releasable means to detachably hold said tubularcasing on said kit, manipulable means to release said releasable means,means operated together with the actuation of said deployment mechanismto release said releasable means thereby to free said tubular casingfrom said kit, a pulling stem on the end of the operating line, a guideon said kit to guide said pulling stem within said tubular casing, areduced neck on said stem, interlocking balls in said neck, a pullingbar in said tubular casing, an inner sleeve around said pulling barhaving apertures therein for interlocking with said balls, an outersleeve around said inner sleeve, resilient means to urge said outersleeve into an initial position toward said guide, said outer sleevehaving a releasing recess therein normally in registry with said ballsthereby to release said pulling bar from said puling stem, connectingmeans between said pulling bar and said outer sleeve and said innersleeve for pulling said outer sleeve thereby to push said balls intoengagement with said pulling stem neck and then to pull said innersleeve and said pulling stem together to pull the operating line whensaid puling bar is pulled,

means to suspend said pulling bar so as to pull said pulling barwhenever said kit is dropped and suspended.

17. The invention defined in claim 12 and said connecting meansincluding,

a second casing,

a sliding element slideable in the second casing and connected to saidactuating line thereby to pull said actuating line whenever the slidingelement is moved,

means in said second casing bearing against said sliding element formoving said sliding element in said second casing,

pressure actuated means for applying pressure to said moving means, and

means interconnected between said pressure applying means and saidsliding member for operating said pressure applying means whenever saidsliding member is pulled beyond said predetermined distance.

18. The invention defined in claim 17, and said pressure applying meansincluding,

a reciprocating plunger bearing against said sliding element,

a. cartridge containing said plunger,

explosive charge in said cartridge for applying pressure against saidplunger for moving said sliding element in said second casing.

19. The invention defined in claim 18 and said connecting means betweensaid pressure applying means and said sliding member including a triggerand firing device on said kit for firing said cartridge, and

a trigger line between the trigger and firing device and said slidingmember to trigger said trigger firing device whenever said slidingmember is moved beyond said predetermined distance.

20. The invention defined in claim 19 and means in said cartridge todelay the action of said explosive charge for a predetermined periodafter the operation of said trigger and firing device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,992,567 7/1961 Gaylord.

2,992,798 7/1961 Smith etal.

3,110,455 11/1963 Olivean. 3,182,928 5/1965 Gaylord.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

